News & Press Releases 2006

DENVER – The Attorney General’s Office announced today that the murder conviction of Michael Backus, who had been found guilty of a gruesome murder thirteen years ago in Steamboat Springs, has been upheld.

“Today, the Colorado Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court’s denial of Michael Backus’ post-conviction appeal on his convictions for first degree murder and conspiracy to commit first degree murder,” said Attorney General Suthers. “This decision keeps a dangerous criminal behind bars.”

DENVER - The Colorado Attorney General’s Office and AARP ElderWatch today hosted the second annual “Fight Fraud – Shred Instead” identity prevention effort at Windsor Gardens in Denver. This free event was held to provide Coloradans with a way to safely discard unwanted or outdated personal and financial documents.

DENVER – Attorney General John Suthers will convene the second meeting of the Colorado Methamphetamine Task Force tomorrow, Tuesday, September 12 at 10 AM. The public meeting will be held at the Department of Law (1525 Sherman Street, Denver) in room 610.

At tomorrow’s meeting, task members will begin to develop a strategy to most effectively address meth in Colorado and assist local communities with curbing methamphetamine abuse.

DENVER - Colorado Attorney General John W. Suthers, and Colorado Securities Commissioner Fred J. Joseph, announced today the arrest of Mark Steven Blakemore of Erie, Colorado, (DOB: 11/20/56) for his alleged participation in a securities scam in the Boulder-Denver area.

DENVER – Attorney General John Suthers today issued an advisory warning consumers about foreign lottery scams. General Suthers issued the advisory after receiving an increased number of consumer inquires and complaints.

“Never send money or provide any personal information to anyone claiming to represent a foreign lottery,” said Suthers. “Not only is it against the law, consumers who lose money to these scams typically have little recourse.”

DENVER – Attorney General John Suthers today announced a series of lawsuits filed by his Consumer Protection Section against Xentel, Inc., a major national charitable fundraiser, and against three local charities, Colorado Children’s Assistance Center, Front Range Charitable Services, and Veterans for the Homeless. Charges were also brought against their officers.

DENVER – Attorney General John Suthers announced today that the Colorado Board of Pharmacy has suspended Western States Pharmacy from distributing pharmaceuticals and filed a Notice of Charges against Wendell Almeida, the pharmacist’s manager, following an investigation conducted by the Colorado Board of Pharmacy. The Attorney General represents the Board of Pharmacy in prosecuting the matter.

DENVER – Attorney General John Suthers today issued an advisory warning consumers about ATM skimming, a scam in which thieves use a card swipe device to capture information on an ATM card.

In this scheme, thieves use a portable card-reading device or “skimmer” that fits unobtrusively over the ATM card slot. The device then records the data on the card’s magnetic strip. In some cases, thieves have also attached small cameras nearby to record consumers as they enter in their PINs.